Jordan Too Bullish For Undermanned Magic

April 6, 1990|By Barry Cooper of The Sentinel Staff

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls, seemingly primed to be upset, were only one player better than the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. But that player was superstar guard Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest performer in the league, and he spoiled a courageous effort by Orlando with a sensational effort in the fourth quarter.

Every Magic player appeared to perform to the best of his ability, but Jordan's far-flung capabilities stretched farther. He had 16 points in the fourth quarter - 38 for the game - to lift the Bulls past short-handed Orlando, 111-104, at Chicago Stadium.

For Orlando (17-56), which lost its seventh in a row, it was a moral victory that fell just short of becoming a heartwarming story. The Magic were without their best inside player, forward Terry Catledge. He was excused from the trip after complaining of an earache. Also out was veteran Sam Vincent, the starter at point guard before a rash of injuries several weeks ago. He remains troubled by soreness in his hip and groin, and he too was excused.

With those veterans on the mend, the Magic arrived at Chicago Stadium with a 10-man roster, and the collective talent seemed hardly efficient enough to compete with Jordan and the Bulls on their home floor.

But the Magic, who lost for the seventh game in a row, did more than just compete. They were a match for the Bulls and pushed them from the start.

Jeff Turner played in place of Catledge, and he was in for the entire game. He played extremely well with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Center Sidney Green, who sustained bruises to his back and hand and said he might not be able to play tonight in Orlando against Indiana, had 20 points and nine rebounds. Forward Otis Smith had 21 points and guard Scott Skiles had 19 points and 11 assists.

But with the game on the line, Jordan, as he has done against so many teams before, took control and determined the outcome.

With the score 95-95 with 4:39 left, Bulls Coach Phil Jackson moved Jordan from shooting guard to point guard. The Bulls wanted the ball in his hands, and Jordan scored eight of the Bulls' next 11 points for a 106-102 lead with 52 seconds left.

The game - close all the way - was tied three times in the fourth quarter, but Orlando never led during the period. And once Jordan staked Chicago to its 106-102 lead, victory was virtually assured for the Bulls. Horace Grant blocked a shot by Turner, and Green fouled Grant. Grant made a free throw to make it 107-102. Only 35 seconds remained, and there wasn't enough time for the Magic to mount a comeback.

There wasn't any sadness in the Magic's locker room. The players laughed and smiled, and they congratulated each other on having played as hard as they could. They also offered Jordan his due respect.

Smith, who was matched against Jordan much of the night, said, ''I came out of the game in the third quarter, and he had 16 points. I came back a few minutes later and he had 28. It was like 'wow.' He has got some incredible capabilities. He is capable of turning it on and off.''

''We played a great game,'' Skiles said. ''We played a great team, and Michael just took over.''

''That is the best defense we have played in a while,'' Magic Coach Matt Guokas said. ''Jordan just took over in the last couple of minutes. He just jumped over some people and made some big shots. We were right there tonight. We had a chance to win. Any kind of a break and things might have gone our way.''

It was the last game of the series this season between Chicago and Orlando, and the Magic matched up well. Chicago won the series, 3-2, with the home team winning every time.

Jackson said Chicago had a hard time getting excited about playing Orlando again.

''I thought they (his team) were bored with the ballgame,'' he said. ''It was difficult to get motivated for Orlando, and it was just one of those scrappy games,'' Jordan said.